Connecter



Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROY O. WERTZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR'TO THE OHIO ELECTRIC AND CON- TROLLER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO CONNEC'IEB Application filed January 16, 1925. Serial No. 2,788.

This invention relates to connecters for electrical conductors and is directed more particularly to a connector of the plug-in type consisting of a pair of opposed contacts which are adapted to be detachably connected together.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a particularly simple and inexpensive form of connecter which shall consist of few parts which may be easily and quickly assembled.

Another object is to provide a connecter which shall insure good electrical conductivity between the contacts thereof and which shall be weatherproof and capable of withstanding the conditions ordinarily encountered in outdoor usage.

A further object is to provide a connecter, each half of which shall be enclosed in a protective shell which extends beyond the contact thereof so that damage to the contact or accidental engagement therewith is prevented. V i

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the various novel features of construction and arrangement or combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing accompanying and forming Y J a part of this application, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a connecter constructed in accordance with my invention, and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 22, 3-3 and 44 of Fig. 1.

Describing the various parts by reference characters, A and B denote generally the two halves of the connector which are adapted to be detachably connected together thereby to electrically connect conductors 1 and 2.

Member A consists of an outer shell 3 which is preferably made of metal such as steel and is substantially cylindrical in shape. Adjacent one end, said shell is formed with an internal shoulder 4 and a threaded bore 5, while adjacent the opposite end thereof the external surface of said she'll is formed with a pair of oppositely disposed bayonet slots or recesses 6. A flange 7 having a beveled edge 8 extends circumferentially about the central portion of the shell 3 and serves to deflect water from the joint between members A and B when the connector is positioned with member A uppermost. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a portion of flange 7 is enlarged as indicated at 9 and is provided with a threaded bore 10 which receives a set screw 11.

An insulating sleeve 12 formed from any suitable material such as bakelite, is fitted snugly within metal shell 3, such sleeve being provided with a threaded projection 14 which is engaged through threaded bore 5. The sleeve is normally retained in position by set screw 11.

Arranged within insulating sleeve 12 is a metal contact support 16 which is .held in position by an insulating dowel 17 that extends through a wall of the sleeve and into said support. This support is provided with a threaded bore 18 which is adapted to receive a terminal screw 19, and also with a threaded bore 20 which receives a coil spring 21. The opposite end of spring 21 is threaded into a contact 22 which is also elec' ically connected with support 16 by a plur ity of flexible conductors 23 so that good conductivity is insured between conductor 1 and the contact, and so that there willbe no heating of the spring which might destroy its temper. Spring 21 tends normally to fo outwardly from support 16 and. a resilient and self-aligning support-for said contact. 1

Member B consists of a metal shell 26 one end of which is adapted to fit over the end portion of metal'shell 3 as shown in Fig. 1. The opposite end of shell 26 is formed with an internal shoulder 27 and a threaded bore 28, the'latter being adapted to receive a threaded projection 29 formed on an insulating sleeve 30 which is positioned within the shell. A set screw 31 threaded through which are adapted to engage in'the recesses 6 formed in shell 3. i

The conductors 1 and 2 may be connected to their respective terminal screws 19 and 34 in anydesired manner but preferably by 5 solderlng such conductors in sockets 36 formed therein. This operation is easily accomplished by removing the terminal screws from the connecter during such operation, after which they may be easily fastened to the connecter again. The conductors l and 2 may be easily and quickly connected or disconnected by means of the bayonet con- 'nection between members A and B and it will be noted that a wiping action is produced between contacts 22 and 33 during such connecting and disconnecting action. Maximum contact is insured between the contacts due to the resilient and self aligning support of contact 22;

The connecter may be positioned with either member. uppermost and the construction of shells 3 and 26-is'such that water will be deflected away from the points of connection and the contacts within the connecter. It will also benoted that when the members A and B are separated, the contacts will be positioned within their respective shells so that they will not be damaged due to drop- 30 ping and accidental contact therewith is effectively prevented.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A connecter of the character set forth comprising a pair of telescoping shells adapted to be detachably connected together, an insulating sleeve positioned within each of said shells, a contact support positioned within one of said sleeves and having a bore 0 therein, a spring secured in said bore and y rojecting from said support, a contact memer carried by the said spring, a plurality of flexible conductors connecting said contact member and contact support, a contact member positioned within the other of said sleeves and adapted to engage the first mentioned contact member when the shells are connected, means for securing said sleeves against relative movement within said shells and I means for detachably connecting said shells together. v

2. A connecter comprising a shell having a central recess withan insulating lining, a fixed contact support at the inner end of said I" recess, a slidable contact'in the outer end of said recess, an axial coiled spring between said support-and contact, tending to press the latter outwardly, and one or more flexible conductors arranged in'the recess and out- 1 00 side of said spring and extending between the support and the contact,

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ,afiix my signature. v a s I u TROY QWERTZ." 

